Maldonado's Votes

Maldonado voted "NO" on the Mayor's $543 property tax increase.Instead, he wants a transaction tax on La Salle Street financial exchanges. He also voted "No" on the Mayor's police oversight board. Maldonado supports an elected body to hold police accountable to "serve and protect".

MALDONADO IS A CO-SPONSOR OF TIF BACK TO BASICSDECEMBER 14, 2018

The ordinance would limit the use of TIF to redevelopment projects in “blighted areas” and those involving property that is either “vacant and/or obsolete.” Subsidies would be confined to projects that would be unable to move forward “but for” TIF support.

TIF districts freeze the amount of tax that would ordinarily go to schools, parks, and other taxing bodies for a period of 23 years. When taxes increase, the extra tax is put into the TIF fund so it can be used for redevelopment in the district.

CITY COUNCIL PASSES MALDONADO'S RESOLUTION FOR CLOSURE OF MIGRANT CHILDREN'S TENT CITY DECEMBER 12, 2018

The City Council passed a resolution calling upon the Trump Administration to shut down a controversial immigrant detention center in Tornillo, Texas where more than 2,000 undocumented children have been held.It was introduced by Aldermen Edward M. Burke (14th) and Roberto Maldonado (26th).

The resolution calls for the federal government to release the detained children to the care of family members or sponsors. It further urges Chicago City Council members to denounce the Trump Administration’s “zero tolerance” policy while demanding that the federal government “assure a safe, humane and expedited transition for the migrant children in keeping with the Flores settlement, a 1997 consent decree which guarantees certain protections for children and limits their detention to 20 days. The detention of children in Tornillo has increased up to 59 days.

"This tent city is cruel and unusual punishment. I'm proud that my fellow Aldermen were willing to take a stand," said Maldonado.

Under an order proposed in Chicago, the Corporation Counsel would be directed to “explore the appropriate legal actions to pursue in seeking to enjoin the appointment of Matthew G. Whitaker as Acting Attorney General and seeking to declare that Deputy Attorney General Rod. J. Rosenstein be recognized in his capacity as Acting Attorney General.

The Department of Justice recently threatened to cut off grant funding for Chicago due to its policies on affording protections for the undocumented. Additionally, former Attorney General Jefferson Sessions also declared his intention to oppose the City’s Consent Decree, a direct interference with police reform.“This office simply has so much to do with the future of the City of Chicago that it would be unwise not to act in this matter,” Alderman Maldonado concluded.

The City Council today passed legislation to establish a Chicago Office of Labor Standards, the first of its kind in Chicago's history. The new agency would enforce city labor laws aimed at lifting low wage workers out of poverty and allowing sick workers to stay home.

Alderman Maldonado, a co-sponsor of the enforcement agency legislation, said, "When Aldermen passed these labor laws, we meant what we said. Now, we have the muscle to force unethical businessmen to do right by their workers and do right by the rest of the business community."

The Office of Labor Standards will be part of the Department of Business Affairs and Consumer Protection.

"This is a very important win for the 26th Ward which has historically been home to low and modest income families. When workers in my ward receive their full paycheck, they will spend more at our local businesses. They can continue to rent or own in the ward, keeping the neighborhood stable," explained Maldonado.

26th Ward Alderman Roberto Maldonado today introduced legislation to increase the stock of affordable housing for seniors, people with mobility impairments, and U.S. Military Veterans in buildings more than 50 years old.

The Ordinance amends the Municipal code so that property owners of older multi-family buildings and mixed-use buildings can convert their unused garden level space into affordable, accessible units. It would allow residential property owners to add up to 5 garden level apartments that are accessible or fully ADA-complaint without first requiring a zoning change and Zoning Board approval to verify compliance with parking and loading standards.The Housing+ Ordinance was referred to the Committee on Zoning, Landmarks and Building Standards. Alderman Maldonado is the lead sponsor on this legislation. It has 17 co-sponsors, including the Chair of the Committee on Zoning, Landmarks and Building Standards, Ald. Danny Solis.

MALDONADO CREATED NEW PARKING PERMIT FOR SMALL COMMERCIAL TRUCKSSEPTEMBER 20, 2018

26th Ward Alderman Roberto Maldonado won the support of the full City Council for a parking ordinance creating a parking permit for small commercial trucks and vans owned by city residents. The ordinance allows owners of commercial trucks and vans to park within a 2 block radius of their home.

"The impetus of this ordinance came from several constituents in my ward who have been ticketed for illegally parking their pick-up trucks or vans on the block where they live. They use these vehicles both for business and personal purposes. I believe it is unfair to penalize our City residents for parking a vehicle they use for their livelihood and their family on the block where they live," Maldonado said.

"City residents must be able to work and live with more fairness and independence from City oversight," said Maldonado.

The City Council passed a resolution authored by 26th Ward Alderman Maldonado today, urging the future 2019 Congress to immediately pass legislation to allow parents of U.S. citizen or DACA eligible children to stay and work in the U.S. legally. The resolution calls on Congress to put into law former President Obama’s executive orders allowing undocumented parents of U.S. citizen or DACA eligible children to be eligible for three-year renewable visas that allow them to live and work and care for their children legally in this country.

Maldonado explained, "I have great hope that the entire Chicago City Council will begin the movement to send a message to the candidates running for election to Congress in November that the time has come to work together and pass legislation that will stop the inhumanity of family separation."Maldonado urged, "anyone who is listening today joins the movement at #StopTheSeparations and commit our future Congress to do the right thing and pass humane laws."

MALDONADO VOTED "NO" ON FUNDING A NEW POLICE ACADEMYMay 25, 2018

This Wednesday, I voted NO on the $95 million appropriations for the new police academy (Item #2 on the Budget Committee report). I voted NO before the move to Defer and Publish was entered into the record and the meeting was adjourned.

To my knowledge, my office has received zero calls or emails in support of the new cop academy but instead several against it. My vote on record reflects not only my sentiments but that of my constituents. In the face of today's meeting, my position remains unchanged. It is still "NO".The City needs to get its funding priorities in order.It should never be about the buildings, but the people. Instead of constructing a brand new building, the City of Chicago should make massive investments in our schools, mental health, violence prevention and job training programs on the west and south sides. There are several anti-violence and prevention organizations that are in need of funds to help steer our youth away from gangs and violence and into jobs and colleges.

CITY COUNCIL PASSES MALDONADO'S SEXUAL HARASSMENT POLICE FOR CITY CONTRACTORSApril 18, 2018Chicago City Council passed the Comprehensive Sexual Harassment Policy for City Contractors Ordinance today. Introduced by Alderman Roberto Maldonado earlier in March, it requires city contractors receiving taxpayer money to have a comprehensive sexual harassment policy to prevent harassment in their workplace. “Companies that do not care enough to develop and enforce sexual harassment policies have no place sharing in City business,” Alderman Maldonado said.

“I couldn't be prouder of my two sons today--one in high school, the other in elementary--as they joined their fellow students across the country to ban assault weapons," said 26th Ward Alderman Roberto Maldonado. “These student protests represent a renewed momentum in the critical fight to stop gun violence.” Last week Maldonado joined 49 other Alderman and Mayor Emanuel by signing a letter which urged Gov. Bruce Rauner to sign legislation requiring gun dealers in Illinois to obtain state licenses. Governor Rauner vetoed the Gun Dealer Licensing Act (SB1657) yesterday. Maldonado said, "Injuries from gun violence are the leading cause of death for children in Illinois. The Illinois State Senate should override the veto and protect our children. This legislation will reduce a major source of illegally trafficked guns from entering our communities, our cities and our state.”

Alderman Roberto Maldonado today introduced legislation requiring all companies seeking city business to have a comprehensive sexual harassment policy. The ordinance was introduced in the Workforce Development Committee where Maldonado is Vice-Chair. “Companies that do not care enough to develop and enforce sexual harassment policies have no place sharing in City business,” Alderman Maldonado said.

Since 2004, the City of Chicago has paid out a staggering sum of $625 million to victims of real and alleged police misconduct. Think about that for a moment. Remember the outrage over the $540 million property tax increase that I voted against? Well, these settlements are $85 million more than that coming out of the pockets of renters and owners alike. If we had common sense reforms in place twenty years ago, much of that $625 million in lawsuits and settlements could have been averted. Simply put, Chicago taxpayers cannot afford to ignore the way we police our citizenry. Therefore, I have proposed three common sense reforms to restore citizens’ trust in our police.

Jointly created by Mayor Rahm Emanuel and Alderman Roberto Maldonado, the Task Force on Employment and Economic Opportunity for People with Disabilities launched today to advise the city on relevant policies and programs to increase employment and other opportunities to benefit residents with disabilities. “There is no question that the only way to succeed in today’s economy is with a strong education and well-paying job,” said Alderman Maldonado. “This Task Force will address the employment gap for persons with disabilities head on, with a goal of opening new doors of opportunity that will lead to economic advancement for everyone in our city.”

In response to an uptick in crime, Alderman Roberto Maldonado has requested a meeting with First Deputy Superintendent Kevin Navarro to urge him to assign more police officers to the 12th and 14th Police Districts. Independent sources report the current combined shortage exceeds 50 police officers in these two districts. Maldonado explained, " Police Commanders' Kulbida (12th) and Saldana (14th) need these men and women to restore peace and quite to the 26th Ward. Despite newly added officers, these districts still suffer shortages. I want to be proactive and prevent crimes instead of reacting to them."

"Can you guess how many Chicago households can buy a million dollar home? If you guessed less than 5%--you're right! But the 26th Ward's history is all about the 95%. And I want to keep it this way," said Maldonado. "I introduced an ordinance, the 606 Affordable Housing Preservation to prevent tear downs that replace affordable homes and apartments with luxury new-builds."

Property prices in the 606 Residential Area west of Western Avenue have increased by 48.2 percent since ground was broken on the 606 Trail.

If a developer does a "teardown" to build luxury housing, a minimum fee of $300,000 would be charged under this ordinance. The money would be deposited into an affordable housing trust managed by a board of trustees made up of local aldermen, leaders from local groups including Logan Square Neighborhood Association and Latin United Community Housing Association (LUCHA) and commissioners of the city's Departments of Buildings and Planning and Development.

The City Council recently passed an ordinance he championed. It creates a 606 Bloomingdale Trail Neighborhood Home Improvement Program providing grants to modest income homeowners to maintain their exterior. "Unscrupulous developers surveil neighborhoods targeting homes in need of exterior repairs. Then they pressure the owner to accept a low-ball offer," explained Maldonado. "These residents have been part of making the ward a better place to live. They have earned the right to enjoy the fruits of their labor instead of being forced out."

I VOTED "YES" ON THE IMMIGRANT LEGAL DEFENSE FUNDDEC 15, 2016

As the main sponsor of the first County Sanctuary Ordinance in the nation--which I championed in 2007 when I served as a Cook County Commissioner--I am proud to join the Mayor in establishing this fund to, once again, protect our undocumented residents from threats of deportation.​The County Sanctuary Ordinance – known as “The Fair and Equal County for Immigrants” ordinance– was passed in 2007 and provided access to all County services to every resident of Cook County regardless of their immigration status. It also prohibited the Cook County Sheriff’s Office from assisting in the investigation of citizenship or immigration status. A year later, the City of Chicago passed a “Welcoming City” ordinance. Both of these ordinances were passed during a time of deep national divide over immigrant rights, and, yet these local laws represented the need to treat our immigrant population with dignity and respect and to bring them out of the shadows.Now, here we are, 15 years later, facing the same issue in an atmosphere of fear and anxiety created by President-elect Trump. I am proud to unite with the Mayor and the Chicago City Council to provide this legal defense fund for our undocumented immigrants to access legal information, screening, and consultations. Cook County and Chicago have created legislation at the local level that the federal government has never been able to achieve and we must continue to treat our undocumented residents fairly and equally for the greater health of our communities and our nation.

As the City of Chicago's Winter Parking Ban takes effect, Alderman Roberto Maldonado will be urging his fellow Aldermen in the Committee on Pedestrian and Traffic Safety to pass a proposed ordinance so that motorists will first receive a warning citation before getting towed. This is now the second year in a row the Alderman has proposed revising the winter parking ban. Maldonado explained, "I'm calling for a warning notice for first time violators of the overnight parking ban. The City should be cutting drivers a bit of slack."

HONORING TEAMWORK WITH JAVIER BAEZ STREET SIGN & RESOLUTIONNov 03, 2016Did you know that Chicago's Puerto Rican community has kept alive the American pastime of neighborhood baseball leagues in Humboldt Park? The formation of this league 48 years ago was the catalyst that revived Humboldt Park after years of neglect. It is for these avid players that I introduced an ordinance to name a street near “Little Cubs Field,” the Wrigley Field replica in Humboldt Park, in honor of Javier 'Javy’ Baez. It's also why I set aside funds to build a batting cage in the park.

Recently, I was one of a handful of Aldermen who voted “No” on the Mayor’s recently proposed new police oversight watchdog group, the Civilian Office of Police Accountability (COPA). My biggest problem with the proposal is that COPA and the proposed new Inspector General position would still be under the thumb of Mayor Emanuel and future Mayors. COPA would not have a guaranteed, sustainable budget, ensuring future budgets to be at the whim of politics. Also, COPA as proposed would not have subpoena power, and would have to rely on the Mayor’s City Law Department for those investigatory powers, a clear and unarguable conflict of interest. Since 2004, the City of Chicago has paid out a staggering sum of $625 million to victims of real and alleged police misconduct. Think about that for a moment. Remember the outrage over the $543 million property tax increase that I voted against? Well, these settlements are $85 million more than that coming out of the pockets of renters and owners alike.

The onlyway to restore trust between our citizens and our police is to create an elected body of community members from each of Chicago’spolice districts empowered to hold police accountable. I am for a police watchdog that is truly independent of City Hall influence.I URGE SWIFT PASSAGE OF THE TIF ORDINANCE FOR CPSOct 10, 2016

If a teachers' strike occurs, I will stand in solidarity with the teachers walking the picket line. As a single parent with 3 children attending public schools, I stand with our union teachers and their valuable support staff of assistants, librarians, counselors and school nurses. TIF surplus taxes must be sent to our schools. As Alderman, it is my duty to ensure that we have high-quality public schools. That's why I've co-sponsored an ordinance to send TIF surplus money to our schools. I pledge to push for speedy passage. According to Cook County Clerk David Orr, Chicago TIFs will produce a surplus of $461 million this fiscal year. Most of this surplus money is currently being banked in downtown TIFs. Despite decades of fiscal mismanagement, some political leaders seek to blame the teachers for the school budget deficit. That must stop. Soaking the working-class homeowner, shortchanging our teachers, and building more charter schools must stop too.

HOW I VOTED ON THE WATER TAXSep 26, 2016

In order to shore up an important and constitutionally mandated pension fund, I made a tough vote in the Finance Committee of the City Council to approve a small (initially approximately 15 cents/day) increase in the water bills of Chicago residents. Some senior citizens with lower incomes will be exempted. While I voted to allow the proposal to move forward to the floor of the City Council, I placed several important conditions upon my further support because I voted "No" on the Mayor's recent property tax increase.

IMPROVEMENTS TO THE MOBILE CARTS ORDINANCESep 15, 2016

I'm proposing reforms so we can grow Chicago’s food cart industry. I introduced a city ordinance in September to reduce license fees for mobile food vendors, or food carts. Chicago’s food cart license fees are out of line compared to other large cities in the nation. New York, Boston, Phoenix and Denver all have food cart license fees under $100 annually, compared to Chicago’s $350. We have the opportunity to create jobs and generate highly-needed revenue for the City of Chicago. The first step is breaking down financial barriers by reducing licensing fees. We should be encouraging the entrepreneurial spirit, not limiting it.

I VOTED "NO" ON THE MAYOR'S $543M PROPERTY TAX INCREASEOct 05, 2015

As you may know, I voted “No” on the Mayor’s $543 property tax increase. As the Chicago Tribune accurately reported before my vote was cast, I was "adamantly opposed to such a large property tax increase." The City of Chicago simply cannot continue to reach further into the pockets of working Chicagoans to finance decades of economic irresponsibility and mistakes. Alternatively, I proposed several revenue ideas consistent to restoring economic and social justice to keep our streets safe, educate our children well and make city services the best they can be. These proposals include:a tiny transaction tax on every financial transaction that occurs at the financial exchanges on LaSalle Street and a new property tax surcharge on every commercial building in our city with an assessment of more than $500 million.

I VOTED "YES" TO STOP BUILDING MORE NEW CHARTER SCHOOLSSep 25, 2015

It has been my long-standing position that unless Charter Schools have a proven track record of producing higher quality results, I do not support replacing our public schools or expanding in the city. This is why there are no charter schools in the 26th Ward. And this is why I am a co-sponsor of a City Council resolution that demands a halt to charter expansions this school year. Simply put, it is not sound fiscal policy to fund the creation of more charter schools during a fiscal crisis with a $500M deficit. This has resulted in more than 1,000 layoffs in CPS schools in the last 3 months, with special education and bilingual education affected the most.